apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Yeah Curtis' attention to detail is AMAZING. Did you guys check out that insanely detailed HANDPAINTED pattern in the kitchen? The man is a machine!

Wow. My god Curtis each of your projects seemed to demand more patience than I will ever have. You are a star. I, too, am gobsmacked and I don't even know what that means.

I was just now in the middle of typing an e-mail to a fawning fan, and then I thought, "perhaps I'll re-fresh my AT screen" and my old bathroom is up there and my Kay French Cleaners mural!

Thanks, Maxwell! And thanks rr, dorio, Amber, Christine.

So ... yeah, I've got over 200 vintage paint-by-number paintings that I've acquired for the express purpose of doing exactly this kind of mural. And although the one I did in my living room is kind of dark, because it's dusk, there are many others with all kinds of other palettes, and the subjects range from snowy landscapes to still lifes and a few dogs; even have a couple 50's pin-up girls (paint-by-numbers? yes) and some Old Masters classics, like the Rokeby Venus and Pinkie and Blue Boy.

Creating fake tile in paint is kind of a hassle, but it's very fun and beautiful -- but be warned, there is spray paint involved! I used more than one technique in there, which, I think I described in the flickr thing, if you look close.

The "wallpaper" in the kitchen was not easy; it took 2 and half months, and was a hybrid of a pattern and a knock-off of that same pattern. Do not try that at home.

Patience to spare! I am trying to learn patience in all my decorating pursuits...it pays off in the end, but I always want everything NOW! I am going to try your reference book magazine holders, too....nice project!

I'm trying to find the exact word to express my combination of admiration, envy, want-to-try-a-much-smaller-and-simpler-version-myself-ness, and sheer awe at Curtis' projects.

Curtis, where can I get my hands on one of those 50's pinup girl paint by numbers?!

My God, Curtis! You put my recent decorating attempts to shame (and I like how my place looks)! What's your going rate? ;-)

Amber -
Those pin-up girl paint-by-numbers paintings tend to go for kind of a lot on eBay; that's where I got both sets of mine, and at that, both of them look like they've been through a tough life. I can't remember what I paid.

I'll probably only part with mine after I've turned them into murals, and at that, probably only for the client that has me do them, so that they can show their friends the source image that their mural came from. My dream client for them would be a lesbian bar, but I'm not married to that idea.

Mary-
It really depends on how big the wall is, how many colors the image has, etc. E-mail me if you like, and we can start figuring something out that would be workable. I'm generalaesthetic@yahoo.com

Curtis,

Now that is some impressive work! Two questions, if I may - 1) In the bathroom, did you use mosaic tiles for the names, or was the illusion created with paint (it was a little unclear to me and I couldn't tell from the photos) 2) On the PBNs... how did you transfer the original pattern to the wall?

Greta work. Really.
Dash

Dash -
The only actual tile in the bathroom is those white one that are sort of brick-shaped.

Yes, all else that looks like mosaic tiles are paint. It was a very complicated little process that involved a negative technique of spray-painting and then putting little tile-shaped bits of painters tape. Then more spray paint, and then more bits of painters tape, until the entire area was millions of little bits of painters tape with slightly different colors underneath them, and with a very tiny space between each one.

And then, grey suede-textured spray paint over that whole thing, so that when the bits of painters tape were removed, it looked like grey grout between different-colored tiles.

I guess I should put progress shots up there, so clarify. But then again, maybe a magician shouldn't show all his secrets? Hmm...

Oooh, Curtis, please put the progress shots up! There are maybe 12 people on earth who have the patience to copy your techniques in full, but your rooms are so inspiring to study. For those of us without your patience and (more important) talent, your work is still a source of ideas on techniques that we might try in a much smaller, less ambitious way.

Hey, don't make our talented friend Curtis reveal his trade secrets! Pay to play, people! ;)

wende-
OK, OK, ya tawisted ma arm. I've put up some of the progress shots of the kitchen, but only on the condition that no one has me put away for complete insanity. I'm tellin' ya, that won't be easy, once you see how I did it.

P2-
I've only put the progress shots of the kitchen. No. I don't think anyone will want to imitate THAT.

Basically, kids, the point here is -- if you DID get me to have a look at your place and come up with something for it that I might do, you can bet your sweet astrological chart I can and will bloody be able to do it.

So Curtis, would you move in with clients until you complete the project?! :) Kind of like that painter on Murphy Brown...I loved that show.

Christine -
Honestly, one reason that I like the whole paint-by-number mural thing is because of how affordable it could be, because of how NOT forever it would take me to do. Clearly, it would help if it were near Manhattan, where I live. It seems to me, that if there's a will, there's always a way. If you want me to have a look and see what I could suggest that I do, please do e-mail me, regardless.

Curtis, as soon as I get a place where I'm actually allowed to paint the walls, I'll definitely keep you in mind!!

Thank you, Curtis, and omigod! Omigod! My basic line of reasoning is correct -- any ordinary person who sees how you do it will promptly hire you instead of trying it at home!

That is just amazing and I do enjoy seeing how it's done. Boy, the combo of patience, passion, and talent it would take to do it...!